Most UP Diliman faculty back August opening

Most teachers on the University of the Philippines (UP) campus in Diliman, Quezon City want classes to start in August instead of June, according to the results of a referendum conducted last month by the University Registrar.

Based on the outcome of the poll conducted among regular faculty members on Feb. 24 to 26, a total of 647, or 70 percent, of the 954 voters were in favor of the change in the academic calendar.

UP Diliman has 1,130 regular professors from 28 colleges and 84 percent took part in the referendum.

The results also showed that among those who favored moving the opening of classes from June to August, 499 wanted the change to be implemented this school year. A total of 154 voters said they wanted it to take effect next year.

On the other hand, UP Diliman instructors who are not considered members of the University Council were also in favor of the change in the school year calendar. Out of 293 who took part in the referendum, 281 voted yes. Most of them likewise said they preferred it to be implemented this year.

The colleges and units that strongly supported (from 83 percent to 100 percent) the change in the academic calendar included Law, Labor and Industrial Relations, Marine Science Institute, Statistics, Asian Institute of Tourism, Human Kinetics, Architecture, Engineering and the National College of Public Administration and Governance.

The referendum was held after the UP chancellor and UP Diliman executive committee composed of the deans of various colleges decided to consult the faculty on the matter.

Last month, the UP Board approved on a pilot basis the shift in the academic calendar this year for UP Manila, UP Los Baños, UP Baguio, UP Visayas, UP Mindanao, UP Open University and UP College in Cebu.

It was implemented after the seven campuses completed the conduct of consultations and told the Board of Regents that they were in favor of the move.